WELCOME!

This blog is about living a Christian life. It is as much for me as it may be for you. I suspect it to be more so.In these posts you will find Biblical truths and life experiences that should help bridge the gap between head apprehension and heart appropriation.Hopefully others will join in and add some pearls of wisdom for us all.

The Picture: It is me relaxing on a friends dock at Swan Lake in Northeastern Montana. Great memories…

Blog? What’s a blog anyway? I remember many years ago asking that question to my wife. She answered it by letting me know it was a place where people write their thoughts and things on the web. Just the other day someone asked me, “what is a blog”, so I don’t feel bad. Some of us just take a while to catch on.

I never really thought that much about blogs but since then they have become all the rage and here I am doing one.

What about this “Tubthumper”thing?

Tub-thumpers are a noisy (and sometimes amusing) lot. The earliest ones were preachers or public speakers with a predisposition for pounding their fists on the pulpit or lectern — perhaps to wake up their listeners! Back in the 17th century, the word “tub” was sometimes used as a synonym of “pulpit”; John Dryden, for example, used the word thus in 1680 when he wrote, “Jack Presbyter shall here erect his throne, Knock out a tub with preaching once a day.” “Tub-thumper” has been naming loud, impassioned speakers since at least 1662, when it was used by a writer named Hugh Foulis to describe “a sort of people … antick in their Devotions….” A synonym for Tubthumper is a Paladin – defined as a leading champion of a cause. word first used on 1592.

So what will you find on here?

You will get my rants and ravings on things important to me. I think some things important to me will appeal to others so I won’t be bashful and I will do the tubthumper reputation some justice. Because I am a Christian and have been as long as I can remember you will find my faith and convictions flavoring the posts. I also have some general philosophical views that will undoubtedly be shared.

If you don’t agree with me that’s ok. If you do, that’s wonderful. But you will know where I stand.

To see the most recent post please go straight to the top of the page and click on Latest Post link. To navigate to the other sources use the category menu to the right.

If you plan on leaving a comment be sure to check out the rules of engagement first. They are located to the bottom of this page.

A blog is no good unless it is read so please do share it with your friends.

I hope you enjoy your stay,

F.J., “The Tubthumper”

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(Rules for commenting)

1. Spam will not be approved. This includes links to other sites and blogs including your own. Discussion will interact in the comments section. Referring to a different site to see what you or someone else has to say will not be approved.

2. Flames or anything remotely similar to a flame will not be approved. A flame is an attack on someone personally, impugning their motives and/or character.

3. Comments that bash other people, businesses, churches or ministries will not be approved. It’s one thing to critique something by stating general principles (rather than by name). But bashing it, running it down by name, or judging its motivations or character will not be approved.

4. Comments that slander, make personal accusations against, or misrepresent other people or their work will not be approved. Misrepresentations and misinformation abound everywhere, and they are usually fueled by people who have never contacted the individuals whose work they are critiquing. Paul tells us, “To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, [but] gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men” (Titus 3:2). Please be obedient to our Lord and treat others the same way we want to be treated.

5. Posts that contain gossip about others will not be approved. Gossip is second or third-hand information that puts someone in a negative light without their knowledge or consent. The information can be true, false, or partial and if identified will not be approved.

6. Comments that can’t be understood due to confusing content or language will not be approved. If the “Tubthumper” doesn’t understand it, there’s a good chance that others won’t either so forget it.

7. Comments that are incredibly long won’t be approved. Anyone is welcome to comment but no one should get carried away. Please keep your comments fairly short so the conversation is encouraged and not hindered.

8. Too many comments by the same person on a single post may not be approved. Comment once and wait to respond to someone else’s comment and then continue. Be careful how often you comment on a single post.

9. Comments that are purely contentious or defamatory won’t be approved. Disagreements are allowed, and you will find many disagreements in the comments section of the various posts. But contentious comments that contain a defamatory tone will not be approved. Neither will comments where you simply repeat the same points that you’ve already made without taking seriously the responses of others to what you’ve already written.

10. Sometimes legitimate comments go into the spam folder, so they may get delayed. The spam folder is checked well however I am human so if your comment doesn’t violate any of the above standards and isn’t there, assume that it went into spam and is delayed.